Officer denies lying about shooting

A POLICE officer has rejected claims he lied about the events leading up to the controversial shooting of mentially ill Sydney man Adam Salter.

Constable Aaron Abela has always maintained Mr Salter threatened the lives of officers before Sergeant Sheree Bissett fired the fatal shot at a Lakember home in 2009.

In a statement made soon after the shooting Const Abela claimed to have physically struggled with Mr Salter who was bleeding and armed with a knife before the shooting.

His honesty was questioned during the Police Integtiry Commission hearing into Mr Salter's death on Thursday.

According to the Herald, counsel assisting the inquiry Geoffrey Watson asked Const Abela "this whole story about trying to restrain Adam Salter is nothing more than a lie to excuse the shooting, isn't it?" to which he replied "No, that's incorrect".